{"product_id":"bartok-violin-concertos-1-2","title":"BARTOK: VIOLIN CONCERTOS 1 \u0026 2","description":"The First Concerto is a total success here; Midori's silken tones caress the Andante sostenuto, and both she and Mehta are very outgoing in the Allegro giocoso. Once again, a longest-ever timing implies great contrasts rather than just a slow performance. The First Concerto was recorded in February 1989, in the Philharmonie, Berlin; it has a full, lovely sound. The same engineering team was less successful there a year later; the Second Concerto does not sound as free and open—it is a bit cold and tight. There is an unfortuante splice at 3:17 of the opening movement (track three), which cuts into a phrase and has the soloist playing louder after than before; if it is an interpretive decision, it is even odder. As I said above, recommended, but with much qualification. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e -- James H. North, FANFARE [3\/1991]\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Sony Masterworks","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":49606364922136,"sku":"074644594126","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/hbdirect.com\/products\/bartok-violin-concertos-1-2","provider":"HBDirect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}